Sixteen-year-old Maya Delaney has survived becoming a shape-shifter, being kidnapped, and bringing the world into a new era at the end of the Mayan calendar.Maya hoped the worst was behind her, but troubling dreams still haunt her sleep. When a mysterious stranger appears, she suspects he may hold the key to her true identity. But to find out, Maya must decide to leave the ones who love her most.

Will the answers she seeks give her solace, or will they take her away from all she holds dear?

My Review:

This book picks up seamlessly where the first book in the series left off. Bourke manages to do this brilliantly without starting in the middle of something. It is a smooth transition from one book to another that allows for a break in between without confusion on the reader’s part. How perfect is that?

Everything in this novel is quite well written. There is never any confusion on the reader’s part. Concepts, such as that of the mating instinct, are clearly developed which helps create a strong basis for the story itself. Not only does Bourke take the time to develop the narrative and background in this story, but also the scenery. Everything is so vivid that you feel like you are watching a movie at times.

I love the fact that Bourke takes the characters from the first novel in the series and runs with them. They are all the same people; no one has had a miraculous personality change at any point in time or in the transition from novel to novel. She also continues to develop the characters, so as a reader you get to know them better and better. They are all such phenomenal (or phenomenally evil) people.

By developing all aspects of the novel, Bourke creates a very well rounded novel, avoiding the trap of a lopsided, fictional story. I also greatly appreciate the fact that although the novel ends setting it up perfectly for the sequel, it does end. The reader is not left completely up in the air, mid action. The biggest downside to this novel…. I don’t have the sequel in my hand right now.